Charcoal briquette igniter

ABSTRACT

A containerized charcoal briquette igniter including a cylindrical housing for receiving charcoal having an inner bottom, a main bottom, handle and a vertically projecting, electric heating element clamped to the inner bottom and extending along the cylindrical axis of the housing.

United States Patent Inventor Michael H. Niemann 920 Chestnut 81.,Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. 54494 Appl. No. 852,311

Filed Aug. 22, 1969 Patented July 6, 1971 CHARCOAL BRIQUETTE IGNITER 8Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1 110/1 F, 126/25 B, 219/161 Int. Cl F23b 3/00 Field of Search431/262;

Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors Anorney-Hofgren, Wegner,Al1en,Ste1lman & McCord CHARCOAL BRIQUETTE IGNITER BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION Charcoal cooking has become increasingly popular despite theobvious difficulties encountered in starting briquette fires due to theslowness of starting such fires as well as the rather dirty and dustycharacter of the charcoal which must be handled preparatory to startingthe fire.

Several products have been placed on the market to aid starting abriquette fire. One popular method in starting charcoal is to saturatethe charcoal briquettes with a highly flammable liquid product and,then, to ignite the charcoal. After about a half an hour, a firesuitable for grilling will result. The use of such flammable liquidsprovides obvious danger and precautions must be taken both during usageand for storage.

More recently, electrical elements or rods temporarily or permanentlyplaced in charcoal grills have been added to the list of variousstarting aids. And while electrical starters are a significantimprovement over flammable liquids, there remains the undesirableproblem of handling the briquettes preparatory to starting the fire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the invention is toprovide a new and improved electrical charcoal briquette fire starter.According to the invention, there is provided a generally verticallyarranged housing having a bottom from which there projects upwardly, anelectrical heating element of the type which will heat to red heat whenenergized. According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing iscylindrical in shape and the heating element is located along thecylindrical axis.

As a result of the foregoing construction, all of the advantages ofelectrical charcoal briquette igniters are present and further, thebriquettes may be easily arranged in proximity to the igniting elementsimply by pouring the same from a bag or other container in which theyare purchased into the housmg.

Other features of the invention include the unique means by which theelectrical heating element is secured to the bottom of thebriquette-receiving housing together with the provision of a falsebottom for housing certain of the electrical components. Also, thearrangement by which the handle for the housing is formed and connectedthereto provide for economy of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingspecification taken in conjunction with the ac companying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS used in the invention and is takenapproximately along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An exemplary embodiment of acharcoal briquette starter made according to the invention isillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and seen to comprise a housing, generallydesignated 10, irl the form of a vertically arranged cylinder. Thehousing is formed by rolling a sheet of steel which will result in thepresence of a seam 12 which may be secured by spot welding or the likeand an open top 13.

Secured to the exterior of the housing, is a generally verticallyarranged handle, generally designated 14, which may be used formanipulating the same while interiorly of the housing and near the upperportion thereof there is located an electrical, charcoal ignitionelement, generally designated 16. The

element 16 is secured along the cylindrical axis of the housing 10 bymounting means including an inner bottom element 18. As a result, thespace between the housing 10, the inner bottom 18, and the charcoalignition element 16 defines a charcoal-briquette-receiving space forreceiving charcoal briquettes 20.

Below the inner bottom 18 there is located a chamber 22 which houseselectrical connecting means for the element 16. The chamber 22 isfurther defined by a bottom element 24.

Turning now to the handle i4, it will be seen that the same is comprisedof a generally U-shaped member 26 having inturned ends 28 at theextremity of its legs. Bores (not shown) in the inturned ends 28 receivebolts 30 which in turn pass through insulating elements 32 to bereceived in aligned bores 34 in the housing 10. Nuts 36 hold the screws,and thus the handle 14, in place.

The electrical ignition element 16 is in the form of a sheathedelectrical heating element capable of being heated to red heat whenenergized. As illustrated, the same is U-shaped and connecting elements38 at the lower ends of the element 16 within the chamber 22 areelectrically connected to leads 40 received within a cord 42 which maybe provided with a plug (not shown) for reception in an electricalreceptacle.

The legs of the element 16 pass through apertures 44 in the bottom plate18 and are maintained in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 by means ofa clamping element, generally designated 46. As best seen in FIG. 3, theclamping element 46 is a generally channel-shaped member having anapertured base 48 which is spot welded as at 50 to the underside of theplate 18. The sides 50 of the clamping element 46 include linedapertures 52 (FIG. 2, only one of which is shown) which may receive abolt 54 and nut 56 for the purpose of drawing the two sides 50 togetherto provide clamping action as will be seen.

The lowermost ends of the clamp 46 comprise a pair of inturned edges 58which, as best seen in FIG. 1, include complementary half diamond cutoutportions 60 aligned with the legs of the element 16. The arrangement issuch that the legs of the element 16 pass through the apertures 44 inthe bottom plate 18 and apertures (not shown) in the base and throughthe diagonal cutout portions 60. When the nut 56 is tightened on thebolt 54, the cutout portions 60 will tightly engage the sides of theelement 60 to hold the same in the position illustrated.

The bottom plate 18 is mounted in the position illustrated by means of abead 62 which is rolled in the exterior surface of the housing 10 andserves as the lowermost support for the bottom plate 18. (Additionally,a pair of angle brackets 64 secured to the housing 10 by means of bolts66 and nuts 68 passing through apertures (not shown) in the side of thehousing 10, with the arrangement being such that the lower arm of theangle bracket 64 is located above the bottom plate 18 and holds the sametightly against the upper side of the bead 62. If desired, thehorizontal arms of the brackets 64 may be spot welded to the bottom 18.)

The bottom element 24 is similarly held in the location shown by meansof similar angle brackets 70 and securing means, generally designated72. Again the horizontal arms of the angle brackets 70 may be spotwelded or the like to the bottom 24.

The housing 10, at a point beneath the bottom member 18 and above thebottom member 24, is provided with a bore 74 receiving a conventionalplastic protecting member 76 through which the cord 42 may pass.

Additionally, that portion of the housing 10 above the bottom 18 isprovided with a plurality of bores 78 to provide for the admission ofair during the briquette ignition process. Preferably, the bores 78 arelocated just above the bottom plate 18.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing 10 is formedwith a 5-inch diameter and the sides of the same extend above the bottoml8 a vertical dimension of approximately 7% inches. In order to insureadequate admission of combustion air, it is desirable that the diameterof the ventilation apertures 78 be on the order of three-eighths inches.

Also, in order to insure that even after extended use during which thedevice may be subjected to extreme corrosion, that the bottom plate 18will not fall downwardly into the chamber 22, it is desirable that thebead 62 extend approximately onefourth of an inch into the cylinderdefined by the housing 10.

The above-mentioned parameters are merely exemplary of a specific set ofdimensions that may be used in fabricating a charcoal briquette igniteraccording to the teachings of the invention. In general, it has beenfound that the height of the charcoal briquette receiving area may beincreased'fifty percent to increase the capacity if desired. Dependingupon the degree of extension, a commensurate extension of the element 16within charcoal-receiving space may or may not be necessary. It is alsodesirable that the diameter of the housing be made on the order of 5inches as mentioned previously when briquettes of a conventional sizeareused inasmuch as such a relationship will insure that almost allbriquettes are in extremely close proximity to the element 16 to insurerapid ignition.

In use, the charcoal-briquette-receiving space may be filled withbriquettes directly from a bag or other container in which they arepurchased and without being touched by hand. Thereafter, the element 16may be energized for a period normally on the order of about minuteswhich will result in ignition of the lower briquettes. The naturallyrising heat will cause the briquettes above the lowermost briquettes toburn and convection currents of combustion air through the apertures 78will. expedite burning and the oxidation rate to thereby add to the heatgenerated by the heating element. Finally, when all the briquettes areignited, it is merely necessary to grasp the igniter by the handle 14and empty the same in the grill.

Having described a specific embodiment of the invention forexemplification purposes, I do not wish to be limited to the details setforth, but rather, to have my invention construed in accordance with thefollowing claims.

1 claim:

1. A charcoal briquette igniter comprising: a vertically arrangedhousing having a closed, charcoal briquette supporting bottom and anopen top; an elongated, generally vertically arranged electricalelectrical ignition means centered within said housing and extendingupwardly from said bottom, the space between said ignition means andsaid housing defining a charcoal briquette receiving area; said housingand said ignition means being configured with respect to each other todefine said briquette receiving area to insure that almost allbriquettes received therein are in extremely close proximity to theignition means to insure rapid ignition; a plurality of combustion airadmission apertures in said housing just above said bottom; and handlemeans secured to said housing.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said ignition means projectsupwardly of said bottom and further including clamping meanswelded tothe underside of said bottom and securing said ignition means to saidbottom.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said clamping means comprises aninverted channel element having inturned edges adapted to frictionallyengage the ignition means and further including tighteningmean's formoving said inturned edges toward each other.

4. The invention ofclaim 1 wherein said handle means comprises agenerally U-shaped member, means securing said U- shaped member to saidhousing, and insulator means interposed between said housing and saidUshaped member.-

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said housing is generallycylindrical and has a diameter of approximately 5 inches; said 7electrical ignition means being generally vertically arranged along thecylindrical axis of said housing so that charcoal briquettes receivedwithin said housing will be in close proximity to said electricalignition means to facilitate rapid ignition thereof.

6. A charcoal briquette igniter according to claim 5 wherein said airadmission apertures have cross-sectional dimensions on the order ofthreeeighths inches.

7. A contarnenzed c arcoal briquette igniter comprising: a

housing having a generally cylindrical sidewall, an inner bottom withapertures therein defining a charcoal briquette receiving area, and avertically spaced main bottom; an inwardly directed bead extending aboutthe periphery of said sidewall just below said inner bottom to supportthe same; means holding said inner bottom against said bead; meanssecuring said main bottom to said sidewall whereby said main bottom andsaid inner bottom define a chamber; an inverted, vertically oriented,U-shaped electrical igniting means projecting upwardly through saidapertures in said inner bottom into said charcoal briquettereceivingarea, said inner bottom into said charcoal briquette receiving area,said ignition means including terminals within said chamber; clamp meansmounted within said chamber for supporting said electrical ignitionmeans; said chamber further including an outlet; an electrical cordextending through said outlet and connected to said terminals; handlemeans; and means securing said handle to said housing in insulatedrelationship with respect thereto; said housing and said electricalignition means being constructed so that charcoal briquettes receivedwithin said briquette receiving area will be located in close proximityto,

1. A charcoal briquette igniter comprising: a vertically arrangedhousing having a closed, charcoal briquette supporting bottom and anopen top; an elongated, generally vertically arranged electricalelectrical ignition means centered within said housing and extendingupwardly from said bottom, the space between said ignition means andsaid housing defining a charcoal briquette receiving area; said housingand said ignition means being configured with respect to each other todefine said briquette receiving area to insure that almost allbriquettes received therein are in extremely close proximity to theignition means to insure rapid ignition; a plurality of combustion airadmission apertures in said housing just above said bottom; and handlemeans secured to said housing.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein saidignition means projects upwardly of said bottom and further includingclamping means welded to the underside of said bottom and securing saidignition means to said bottom.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein saidclamping means comprises an inverted channel element having inturnededges adapted to frictionally engage the ignition means and furtherincluding tightening means for moving said inturned edges toward eachother.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said handle meAns comprises agenerally U-shaped member, means securing said U-shaped member to saidhousing, and insulator means interposed between said housing and saidU-shaped member.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said housing isgenerally cylindrical and has a diameter of approximately 5 inches; saidelectrical ignition means being generally vertically arranged along thecylindrical axis of said housing so that charcoal briquettes receivedwithin said housing will be in close proximity to said electricalignition means to facilitate rapid ignition thereof.
 6. A charcoalbriquette igniter according to claim 5 wherein said air admissionapertures have cross-sectional dimensions on the order of three-eighthsinches.
 7. A containerized charcoal briquette igniter comprising: ahousing having a generally cylindrical sidewall, an inner bottom withapertures therein defining a charcoal briquette receiving area, and avertically spaced main bottom; an inwardly directed bead extending aboutthe periphery of said sidewall just below said inner bottom to supportthe same; means holding said inner bottom against said bead; meanssecuring said main bottom to said sidewall whereby said main bottom andsaid inner bottom define a chamber; an inverted, vertically oriented,U-shaped electrical igniting means projecting upwardly through saidapertures in said inner bottom into said charcoal briquette receivingarea, said inner bottom into said charcoal briquette receiving area,said ignition means including terminals within said chamber; clamp meansmounted within said chamber for supporting said electrical ignitionmeans; said chamber further including an outlet; an electrical cordextending through said outlet and connected to said terminals; handlemeans; and means securing said handle to said housing in insulatedrelationship with respect thereto; said housing and said electricalignition means being constructed so that charcoal briquettes receivedwithin said briquette receiving area will be located in close proximityto said electrical ignition means to insure rapid ignition thereof.
 8. Acontainerized charcoal briquette igniter according to claim 7 whereinsaid clamp means comprises an inverted channel member having inturnedends secured to the underside of said inner bottom and having aperturesaligned with the apertures in said inner bottom; and tightening meansfor moving said inturned ends towards each other, said electricalignition means passing through the apertures in said channel and betweensaid inturned ends whereby the same may be securely clamped in place byoperation of said tightening means.